Exhibit Columbus opens its new cycle with speakers, presentation about revitalization

Mike Wolanin | The Republic Rick Johnson, board chair for the Landmark Columbus Foundation, welcomes guests to the Exhibit Columbus Community Kickoff event at Helen Haddad Hall in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, June 14, 2022.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus already is doing some of the short-term suggestions that a New York City consultant suggested Tuesday morning to boost and revitalize downtown. And the metro firm said other recommended concepts have been successfully implemented by other similar-sized cities over a period of a few years.

James Lima Planning + Development made a presentation at the kickoff of the new cycle of Exhibit Columbus programming before a crowd of about 85 people at Helen Haddad Hall on Franklin Street downtown.

Exhibit Columbus is a program exploring art, architecture, design and community in a way that activates Columbus’ Modernist worldwide profile and its other offerings.

The local attendees, beyond visiting designers and others, included representatives from city government, downtown businesses, the Columbus Area Visitors Center, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, The Commons, members of the Columbus City Council, the Bartholomew County Public Library and other stakeholders.

“This is mostly an affirmation and congratulations of what you’re already doing,” Lima said.

Ideas already implemented include art gallery openings merged with street concerts done by the Columbus Area Arts Council, and downtown business scavenger hunts organized by Viewpoint Books events that have drawn young families with children to a range of businesses and social spots. The consultants said perhaps more of those could be done.

Lima said his mantra with this kind of work is simple: “Capital follows talent. Talent follows place. Place needs investment.”

For the complete story and more photos, see Wednesday’s Republic.